The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1887-03-16

stated for by his natural ability and his
energy as a student. AT any rate he en-
tered the ministry the most scholarly man
of the three, and from the very first sermon
preached by him before tire Congregation
alists of Brooklyn to the day Of his death
he made his power felt, not only in the
church to which he became attached, but
his ideas exerted a wonderful influence
upon all other denominations. Mr..
Beecher's fame became familiar through
out the length and breadth of the land in
short time, and the plymouth Church,
which soon became known as "peechers
church," was enlarged to accommodate the
tremendous crowds which gathered to hear
the eloquent preacher. He spoke on all
topics of current or national interest; he att
tackled abuses and criticized politicansS
he opened up his battery OF satire
upon the institution OF slavery,
and denounced the American Govern
ment for not wiping out the great
stain upon the nation; took hold of the
abolition movement, and invited the slaves
of the South to strike for liberty, declaring
that every one of them who entered New
York would be protected; ridiculed the
slave party in Congress-; called the slave
owners vulgar traders in human flesh, and,
in q word, did everything within his power
to bring down odium upon the South, and
to raise the feeling in the North to such
pitch that clash would be inevitable be-
tween the two sections and the slave ques-
ton finally settled forever. He had no
doubt as to the ability of the North to
bring the South to terms, and he looked
forward to the inevitable struggle WITH con-
fidence. Beecher's name became famous
among the abolitionists and obnoxious
among the Shareholders. He was admired
by half the country and thoroughly hated
by the other half. But enemies as well as
friends thronged to hear him, and although
the Plymouth Church had seating ca
pacity for 5000 persons the aisles were
often filled, and hundreds of people
stood up in nave and galleries during
the delivery of what may be appropri-
ately termed his great religio-political lect-
ures. During the years of excitement which
preceded the Southern rebellion, and dur
ing the rebellion itself, he maintained that
slavery must be abolished at any cost.
When the war broke out he did perhaps as
much as any other man in the country to
inspire the people with patriotism and en-
thusinsm, and his discourses always con-
tanned more politics than religion.
After the war he settled down more close
" to the discussion of purely religious top
les, but now and then he departed from the
well-worn scriptural paths, and launched
off into politics, political and social econo-
my, questions of international law and
trade, and, in short, there was scarcely q
topic before the public upon which he did
not give his views, whether ii concerned the
local government of Brooklyn or the claims
Of the United States against Great Britain.
Mr.. Beecher had for number of years
been regular contributor 10 The columns
of religious and family newspapers, and out
of one of these connections scandal arose
in 1874 which greatly impaired his influence
and for time threatened to destroy it en-
tirely.
Mr.. Beecher was prolific and always an
interesting and instructive writer. He
began by contributing to the Cincinnati
journal, q religious weekly, of which he
afterward became editor. He was con-
slant contributor to the Independent from
the date of its establishment in 1858, and
from 1861 to 1868 he was its chief editor.
He wrote also for the Fdrmer and Gar
dener, and contributed TO other agricultural
newspapers, farming being one of his
numerous hobbies. For number of years
he edited and was part proprietor of the
Christian Union, which, under his man.
agement, became valuable property. and
he contributed weekly sketches and novel
to Mr.. Bonner's New York Ledger. His
principal published works are: Lectures
to Young Men," Life Thoughts"
Sermons on Liberty and War;"
"The Plymouth Collection Of Hymns
and Tunes" Royal Truths" Eyes
and Ears" "Star Papers" Norwood, a
Novel;" and large number of volumes of
plymouth Sermons" His greatest and
most pretentious undertaking was life of
Christ, which was never completed accord
ing to contract, and which resulted in
large amount of litigation between himself,
his publishers, and their successors.
The changes which have come over Mr..
Beecher's theological views during the last
ten years are so fresh in the minds of the
people that it is not necessary to particu-
lariZe them here. 1t is enough to say that
he has been at times on the very verge Of
infdelity and at times in the very core
of orthodoxy. His congregation was
not a particular one respecting ques-
tons of religion. 1t cared more for the
man than the doctrines which he preached.
1t was sensational congregation,
and it admired him because he satisfied
its demands for something at once unique,
sensational, and interesting. They are few
who can call his doctrines sound, and there
are many who will pronounce his teachings
pernicious, but he was always assured, no
matter how radical or how liberal his views
might be, of the support of that portion of
the American people who have no settled
opinions of their own about religion or O
future state. He became popular with
large class by denying the existence Of
hell and making the sinners of his congre-
CATION feel as comfortable as possible for
the time being.
Mr.. Beecher visited Europe thrice, but
has never travelled extensively abroad. As
a lecturer he was very successful, and ac-
cumulated large fortune in this way
alone. He was man of fine appearance
in early life, but of late years he became
rather corpulent and lost considerable of
that sprightliness which his congregation
SO much admired.
His Desire Was tn Continue Preaching.
bismarck Dak.) special
When Henry Ward Beecher stopped
here on his Northwestern lecture tour three
years ago he said in one interview in an
swer to the question as to when he in
tended retiring from the pulpit and the
lecture field: Il intend to preach for fifteen
years, for believe that retirement from
active work would hasten DEATH" He
further stated that in his opinion if his
father had not retired when he did he would
have lived fifteen years longer. When
here MIR. Beecher was accompanied by
j. Il. Pond, the business manager OF the
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